Bradley had a half-eaten plate in front of him as he sat at the dining table, sipping at his coffee as he read a magazine. He glanced up as Cassidy entered the room, giving him a smile.
"Morning. Did you sleep okay?"
Bradley grunted and went back to his magazine. Guessing he wasn't a good morning person, Cassidy picked up the plate of food - it was still warm - and brought it over to the table.
Going back to the island, she poured herself a coffee and selected two slices of toast. She was going to feel overly full after this meal but Cassidy wasn't going to waste it.
Bradley coughed awkwardly as Cassidy sat opposite him.
"Listen, Cassidy, I'm so sorry about last night. I don't often act like that and I'm..." He flushed. "I'm not helpless."
Cassidy smiled, trying to put him at ease.
"It's nothing to be ashamed of. It happens to everyone." She began to cut up her bacon. "As for being helpless, even the stronger of people need someone to lean on once in a while. You shouldn't be ashamed to ask for that every now and then."
Bradley stared at her. Cassidy began to wonder if she had applied her makeup wrong again.
"You're good for my ego." He murmured.
"Don't get too used to it." Cassidy teased, giving him a grin.
Bradley grinned back and he seemed to relax. They ate in silence for a while, Cassidy wolfing down her food. She hadn't realized she was so hungry. Bradley finished his plate as Cassidy tackled her eggs and the mushrooms, pushing his plate away and sitting back in his chair.
"So, what's on the cards for today?"
Cassidy swallowed her mouthful and tried not to stare at him. Sitting there, one arm over the back of the chair and giving her a suggestive look, wearing a simple navy sweater and jeans that seemed to cling to every contour of his body, the man looked good enough to eat.
Her body was going into overdrive. Cassidy wished she had used her vibrator that morning but it probably wouldn't have taken the edge off.
"Not much." She realized she sounded breathless and coughed. "Carry on as usual and you pick a time in the day where we can have the session."
"What will you do while I'm carrying on as normal?"
"Getting on with some work." Cassidy reached for her coffee. "That can be dealt with while I'm here."
Bradley raised his eyebrows.
"Why should you be working? Why not make the most of your time here. I have a pool, a gym and a library. You could use them at your leisure."
Cassidy was tempted. She loved to read and she loved to swim. The gym she might avoid; they weren't her favourite places. But she did need to get her paperwork sorted before she went back to the real world.
"I am a professional and I still need to work." She looked at him over her coffee cup. "A month goes a lot quicker than you think. I can't slack all the time."
Bradley grinned. Suddenly his eyes seemed to glow.
"Trust me, with me around, you won't be slacking."
As the Control Cracks
"Cassidy?"
Cassidy looked up from the book in her lap. Ron stood in the doorway to the library. She straightened up.
"Mr Evas."
"Come on, call me Ron." Ron smiled, the smile reaching his eyes. He entered the room and nodded in the direction of Bradley's office. "How's it going with the boss today?"
Cassidy sighed and closed her book. The words had been running together for the past half hour and she hadn't even got past the first page. And it was because of that infuriating man who had hired her personally for the month.
"He's frustrating as hell." She declared. "I swear, he doesn't want to compromise on anything."
It wasn't that she hadn't had difficult clients before. But Bradley certainly came under one of the worst. He didn't respond much, if at all, to the exercises she gave him and he acted like a petulant child. He was grumpy and Cassidy was as patient as she could be but he just wouldn't accommodate anything to help.
When he wasn't grumpy, he was trying to flirt with her and that had played havoc with Cassidy's head. Whether he was flirting with her because she was a woman or because he genuinely found her attractive, she didn't know but it wasn't helping. Cassidy had been out of sorts since their first session.
Three days into their month-long interaction and they hadn't got anywhere at all. They had not made even the slightest dent in controlling his anger.
"He doesn't like being told what to do." Ron looked sympathetic.
"I've noticed." Cassidy grunted. She rubbed her hands over her face with a sigh. "He also doesn't like talking about his past."
"It is a very touchy subject."
"I know that but if he opened up it would help a lot with his treatment."
Cassidy was sure his parents' deaths were at the center of things and why he was so angry all the time. But if he kept it inside it was going to fester and Cassidy's efforts would be futile.
"It'll take time to get that." Ron said grimly. "And it's time he doesn't have."
Cassidy wanted to ask what he meant but decided against it. The few times she had spoken to Ron, while he was nice enough, he tended not to give the answers she wanted. It would just be going round in circles with him again.
"Don't get too upset." Ron assured her. "You're getting somewhere. Mr Nash likes you."
"He has a funny way of showing it."
"Trust me, he does. Mr Nash is one those people who's not good with emotions. He's either emotionless or far too intense. No emotion or too much of it. But I can tell he likes you. Just work on that and something should happen."
Cassidy hoped so. She didn't like being here if she wasn't doing any good. However if Bradley did like her as Ron suggested, that might prove useful. She didn't know how but it would.
All she needed to do was to get it drummed into Bradley's stupid head that she was worth her weight in gold when it came to her job.
*****
Cassidy decided to seek Bradley out and have it out with him. She needed to lay down how it was going to happen. Either he cooperated and they worked together or he could carry on being a stubborn bastard and she would walk out. She refused to work with someone who kept putting up barriers.
And he had been the one who wanted her here. Her role here was redundant if he didn't give at his end.
After searching the house and finding his office empty, Cassidy decided to check the pool, which was in an extension at the back of the house. She had sampled the pool the day before and it was a perfect temperature. Swimming laps in there had been invigorating and soothing. Cassidy could have stayed in there all day if she were able.
Bradley also swam in there regularly. From what Cassidy could gather from his schedule, he always had a swim in the morning and a swim in the evening. It was part of his routine and Bradley always kept to a routine. If he wasn't in his office or the gym, he would be in the pool.
And he was. Cassidy entered the room and watched him swim from the far end of the pool to her side. His arms propelled him through the water, seeming to slide effortlessly across the pool. Cassidy stood and stared, unable to take her eyes away.
She had seen him without his shirt on that night when he had his flashback but it had been dark; she hadn't really seen him properly. Now she was getting a proper look.
Bradley reached the end of the pool, reaching out for the side. A moment, later he was hauling himself out of the water, pushing himself to his feet. Cassidy's eyes went round as she took him in.
The man was gorgeous. His body looked like it had been chiselled from stone. Arm and leg muscles were corded, his hardened abs and narrow hips going up to a broad chest and muscular shoulders. His red hair dripped water onto his shoulders and Cassidy's eyes were drawn to the rivulets trickling down his chest.
The trunks he was wearing left little to the imagination, clinging to every part of his anatomy. Cassidy couldn't help but notice that his cock, which was noticeable through the fabric, was huge. Even when it wasn't erect, it was h
uge. She let out a whimper as moisture pooled between her legs and her pussy began to throb.
Bradley's head snapped up. His eyes snared her to the spot. Cassidy watched as his eyes seemed to glow, going from dark brown to golden amber. Then she saw his cock stiffening. As she watched it grew and stretched the trunks before the head poked through the top of his trunks.
Cassidy swallowed. She couldn't take her eyes off him. When she should be doing was turn and leave so he could make himself more presentable but her feet were rooted to the spot.
"Bradley, I..."
Bradley advanced on her, his eyes never leaving her face. He seemed to be breathing more heavily, his nostrils flaring. Cassidy's body felt like it was about to combust. She had never had a man look at her like that before. Like he wanted to eat her up.
It was too intense. She took a step back.
"I'm sorry to have bothered you." She muttered. "I'll leave you to get dressed."
She turned but Bradley grabbed at her hand, stopping her.
"Don't go."
Cassidy didn't know why but she couldn't disobey him. She turned back and stared as Bradley stepped up close, his chest brushing against hers. Her nipples tightened and suddenly her bra felt too confining. Bradley growled softly, reaching up and brushing his fingers across her jaw.
"So beautiful." He whispered.
Cassidy was rooted to the spot. He thought she was beautiful? This had to be a dream.
Then all thoughts of this being a dream disappeared when Bradley lowered his head and kissed her. His mouth was firm and insistent and Cassidy could do nothing more than let him, closing her eyes and kissing him back.
She allowed him to open her mouth with his tongue so it could dive inside, tangling with her tongue as he pressed his hand to the back of her head and pulled her against him.
God, the man could kiss. It was even better than her fantasies.
Then, his cock brushed against her stomach and Cassidy came back to reality with a gasp. For a moment, she had forgotten that Bradley Nash was a client, someone she was supposed to be in charge of. She had no place thinking of him as desirable and available, someone she wanted to strip naked and rut with until they collapsed covered in sweat.
That would be the end of her career, as she knew it. Much as being this close to her crush was incredible, Cassidy wasn't prepared to lose her job because she wanted to fulfil her fantasy.
She broke the kiss and pushed Bradley away. Her cheeks were burning and her eyes were stinging.
"I'm sorry, I can't do this."
"Cass..."
But Cassidy was already running out of there. Her vision blurred but she kept going, running up to her room and collapsing onto the bed. It was only then that she let loose the tears.
It was either run and save face or let him carry on as they were and lose her livelihood.
Cassidy wished it could be anything other than that.
#
It wasn't supposed to end like that. Bradley glared at his computer screen, wanting to punch his fist through and through the monitor against the wall. His frustration was tenfold and he had no way of releasing it.
Kissing Cassidy had done something to him. His dragon had calmed and his anger seemed to ebb. It was like a salve on the wounds he was carrying. She had tasted so sweet and so soft that Bradley couldn't help but sink into it.
If she had stayed, he would have had her against the wall, stripping her jeans off and ramming his cock into her, feeling her pussy clamp around him enough to make his head feel like it was about to explode.
But she had gotten scared and run off. However, Bradley was sure it was ethics that were keeping her from going further; she needed this job and sleeping with her client would surely have her fired. Bradley wouldn't have said anything but Cassidy had a conscience. She would have known and that would have ruined everything for her.
While Bradley didn't want her to lose her job over him, he did want her. He needed her. His mate was within his grasp - hell, he had tasted her - but she was determined to keep out of reach.
And he had found something that could help with his anger. And his solution was the woman who refused to bend to his flirtations even in the slightest.
There was a knock at the door. Bradley growled and glared at the door.
"I'm busy!" He shouted.
But the door opened anyway and Lex stuck her head round the door.
"Not too busy for me, I hope."
Bradley's frustration went when he saw his sister. He couldn't be mad at her. He stood and came round the desk as Lex entered the room and closed the door.
"Lex." He hugged her, pressing a kiss to her forehead. "It's good to see you."
"I'm glad you think so." Lex hugged him back and then stepped away, raising her eyebrows at him. "How are you getting on? Ron said you've got the counsellor living in for the month."
"I have." Bradley sighed and rubbed at his eyes. "I'm not sure if that was a good idea, though."
"How come?"
Because having his mate that close but he couldn't touch her without her shying away and running like a frightened rabbit.
A rabbit he wanted to devour and mark as his. His dragon was just as annoyed as he was that it wasn't able to do that.
"The counsellor's a woman, Lex."
He let that hang in the air. Lex knew him well enough to know what he was talking about. And it wasn't long before Lex's eyes widened, her mouth dropping open in surprise.
"You mean that the woman Ron hired to help you is your mate?"
"She is."
Bradley turned away and went back to his desk. He felt really embarrassed to admit this to his sister. Before he had no problem getting a woman; they simply fell at his feet. Now he was at a loss at what to do; Cassidy was proving more of a challenge than he expected.
"I think I blew it, Lex. I don't know what to do."
"What happened?"
Bradley explained about the day before by the pool. It wasn't much but Bradley omitted things such as his thoughts on what he wanted to do to Cassidy and his state of arousal. Not only was it embarrassing to share those thoughts with his sister, Lex knew him well enough to fill in the gaps.
When he finished, Lex went and sat on the chair that Cassidy used when she was taking him through their sessions. She leant back and crossed her legs, giving him a frown.
"So you didn't have sex with her?" She asked. "You just kissed her?"
"Yes, that's it." Bradley leant against his desk and folded his arms grumpily. "I haven't seen her since. She didn't come down to dinner and she asked Gino if she could have breakfast in her room."
"It sounds like you were too intense, little brother." Lex shook her head. "I keep telling you that you're too much for people at times."
"Thanks for reminding me of that now." Bradley sneered. He let out a frustrated huff and threw his hands into the air.
"How am I supposed to do it, Lex? I've never felt like this before and my dragon wants to mate with her badly. How am I supposed to make her my mate if she won't come near me in the first place?"
Lex smiled. She didn't seem at all affected by Bradley's emotions.
"You are forgetting something, Brad. Humans don't mate on sight. They may rut within minutes of meeting each other but that never has any meaning. And I'm guessing, this woman isn't one of those people. People like her prefer seduction. Human females love seduction. It's more romantic and speaks of feelings, which is what they want."
Bradley groaned. He was used to sex without strings, sex with no feelings involved. Well, they weren't on his side. Some of the girls he had slept with claimed to be in love with him after one night but he scoffed at that. Never once had he had to really work for one woman.
"I'm not good at this."
Lex chuckled.
"Of course, you are. You just need to go a bit slower. Things will happen but if you go at your pace, she'll get scared and run."
"But, she's here for my anger, not to sleep
with me." Bradley growled, wishing it wasn't the case. "She's got a job to do. Ethics are getting in the way. How do you suggest I get past that?"
Lex smirked, her eyes glinting mischievously.
"You were good at truth or dare when you were a kid. You figure it out."
Changing the Rules
Cassidy wasn't looking forward to this. Her next session with Bradley. It had been two days since she had seen him by the pool. Two days since he had kissed her, made her want to fuck him until they were both exhausted.
That was not how counsellors were supposed to act around their clients.
But Bradley was the client and he called the shots. So when he said he wanted a session with her first thing in the morning after breakfast, Cassidy knew she had to go. He was paying her to help him, after all. She would be a terrible counsellor if she didn't turn up to her own sessions.
So she went, dressed in a conservative light grey trouser suit, her hair fashioned into a tight French plait down her back. She knocked three times on the office door and entered without waiting for a response. Then she closed the door and approached the desk, hands clasped in front of her with her head held high.
"Mr Nash."
She could get through this like a professional. They would have their hour and then she could escape back to her room until the next one. If Cassidy stayed in Bradley's company longer than she had to, those ethics she clung on to would be going right out the window and then everything would be up in the air.
Bradley was sitting at his desk. He looked gorgeous in a red sweater that was nearly the same colour as his hair and black jeans. Cassidy's mouth went dry. Why did the damn man have to look so delectable? He looked up and shook his head.
"I told you, Cassidy, to call me Bradley." He gave her a small smirk. "Or Brad, if you think that's too much of a mouthful."
Cassidy flushed as Bradley's cock came to mind. She knew exactly what he was talking about and saw the confirmation in his eyes. She swallowed and squared her shoulders.
Alien Romance: The Space Dragon's Owned: Scifi Alien Abduction Romance (Alien Romance, Alien Invasion Romance, BBW) Page 3